The BDF have been on the streets of Belize City so long you probably don't even notice them anymore - but they are there alright, over 200 of them patrolling day and night, night and day.
But now after more than two decades of urban deployment, the BDF is finally being allowed to pull them back. 7News has confirmed reports that the plan is to pull back the soldiers at the end of February, which is just 17 days away.
And what's driving it? Well, a number of things. First, there are more police now - 120 just passed out two weeks ago, bringing the department's numbers to about 1500. Second, crime in the city has been on a consistent downswing; 2013 saw a record downturn in the number of murders, after reaching a record high in 2012. Third, the BDF has been pushing for years to get the soldiers back to their core responsibility of defending the borders. The military brass believes that long deployment in urban settings lowers morale and gives both the country and the army a bad image.
Again, this is unofficial - we are told the decision is firm but has to be flexible depending on the sometimes changing landscape of crime in the city.
Best information says the BDF was first deployed to the streets of Belize City in 1991- when street killings first started - and they have been on those streets ever since. The 200 plus soldiers currently deployed in the city is believed to be about 25% of the entire force.
